Compare BlackBerry Z10 Tariffs: UK Price Comparison Tables
February 8th, 2013
The BlackBerry Z10 is the world’s first smartphone with BlackBerry 10. We look at BlackBerry Z10 price plans in the UK.
With the BlackBerry Z10, the BlackBerry platform has been re-invented. The entire BlackBerry operating system has been re-designed from the ground up: there’s a new user interface called BlackBerry Flow that’s optimised for touchscreens and there’s the ability to run a greater selection of applications (including modified Android apps). According to BlackBerry, the BlackBerry Z10 has access to over 70,000 applications at launch including big names including Skype, Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp.
Another departure from older BlackBerry phones is that the BlackBerry Z10 is fully-touchscreen. Rather than having the trademark hardware keyboard, the Z10 uses an on-screen software keyboard instead – just like on the iPhone and Android. This means there is a larger amount of space on the screen for apps.
Aside from the new operating system and the new form factor, the BlackBerry Z10 also features a new version of BlackBerry Messenger (BBM). In addition to chatting via text messages, the new BBM supports video and voice calling. You can also share your screen. For business users, the new BlackBerry Balance feature allows you to separate your business data from personal data.
BlackBerry Z10 Price Comparison
Our price comparison calculator can help you to find the best value deals for the BlackBerry Z10 in the UK. Alternatively, scroll down for a full list of tariffs available on UK networks.
The ‘total cost of ownership’ is the total amount that you can expect to pay over the length of your contract. It takes into account the upfront payment for the handset plus all of the subsequent monthly payments. On a 24 month contract, the total cost of ownership is calculated as:
Total Cost of Ownership = Upfront Cost + (24 x Monthly Cost)
The complete list of 24-month BlackBerry Z10 tariffs in the UK is as follows:
EE: BlackBerry Z10 Tariffs
The BlackBerry Z10 is 4G-capable. You can use it on the UK’s first 4G network, EE, and you’ll be able to use it on other 4G networks once they’ve launched in the UK. With 4G, you can expect download speeds of around 15Mbit/s. This compares to typical speeds of 4Mbit/s on a 3G connection.
EE are stocking the BlackBerry Z10 on a range of 4G price plans from £31/month. All of their tariffs come with unlimited calls and unlimited texts: you just need to choose the amount of data that you want. At the low end, EE’s cheapest BlackBerry Z10 tariff costs £31/month plus £200 upfront. For this, you’ll get 500MB of data to use each month. The total cost of ownership is £949 on this plan.
Rather than opting for a 4G plan with download limits, I recommend opting for T-Mobile’s Full Monty plan on 3G with no download limits. T-Mobile is part of EE and shares the same 3G network. On T-Mobile, you can get speeds of 4Mbit/s on 3G: easily enough for high-bandwidth activities such as online radio and video. Although you won’t get 4G download speeds, you’ll get unlimited internet with no worries about running out of data. You’ll also get 2,000 minutes and unlimited texts. The total cost of ownership on T-Mobile is £914: £35 less than EE’s entry-level 4G tariff.
| Tariff | Minutes | Texts | Data | Upfront Cost | Monthly Cost | Total Cost of Ownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500MB plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | 500MB | £199.99 | £31.00 | £943.99 |
| 500MB plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | 500MB | £149.99 | £36.00 | £1,013.99 |
| 1GB plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1GB | £49.99 | £41.00 | £1,033.99 |
| 3GB plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | 3GB | £29.99 | £46.00 | £1,133.99 |
| 5GB plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | 5GB | £29.99 | £51.00 | £1,253.99 |
| 8GB plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | 8GB | £29.99 | £56.00 | £1,373.99 |
| 20GB plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | 20GB | £29.99 | £61.00 | £1,493.99 |
O2: BlackBerry Z10 Tariffs
O2 are ranging the BlackBerry Z10 on a range of tariffs from £13.50/month. The most popular tariff offering is likely to be their flagship On & On tariff. You’ll get unlimited calls, unlimited texts and 1GB internet for £26/month plus £200 upfront. Over 24 months, the total cost of ownership comes to £824.
On O2, it doesn’t make sense to buy the BlackBerry Z10 on any tariff besides On & On. In the table below, we’ve listed all of O2′s tariffs in order of cost. We’ve started with the lowest cost tariffs and move upwards to more expensive plans. All costs are compared on the total amount that you pay over 24 months. Compared to On & On, almost all other BlackBerry Z10 tariffs cost more and come with fewer inclusive allowances. It simply doesn’t make sense to pay more and to get less.
| Tariff | Minutes | Texts | Data | Upfront Cost | Monthly Cost | Total Cost of Ownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O2 50 + 100MB Data | 50 | Unlimited | 100MB | £379.99 | £13.50 | £703.99 |
| O2 50 + 250MB Data | 50 | Unlimited | 250MB | £379.99 | £16.50 | £775.99 |
| O2 200 + 100MB Data | 200 | Unlimited | 100MB | £349.99 | £18.50 | £793.99 |
| O2 On & On | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1GB | £199.99 | £26.00 | £823.99 |
| O2 On & On | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1GB | Free | £36.00 | £864.00 |
| O2 200 + 250MB Data | 200 | Unlimited | 250MB | £349.99 | £21.50 | £865.99 |
| O2 On & On | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1GB | £129.99 | £31.00 | £873.99 |
| O2 300 + 100MB Data | 300 | Unlimited | 100MB | £299.99 | £24.00 | £875.99 |
| O2 900 + 100MB Data | 900 | Unlimited | 100MB | £99.99 | £34.00 | £915.99 |
| O2 On & On (2GB Data) | Unlimited | Unlimited | 2GB | £199.99 | £31.00 | £943.99 |
| O2 600 + 100MB Data | 600 | Unlimited | 100MB | £249.99 | £29.00 | £945.99 |
| O2 300 + 500MB Data | 300 | Unlimited | 500MB | £299.99 | £27.00 | £947.99 |
| O2 On & On (2GB Data) | Unlimited | Unlimited | 2GB | Free | £41.00 | £984.00 |
| O2 1200 + 100MB Data | 1,200 | Unlimited | 100MB | £49.99 | £39.00 | £985.99 |
| O2 900 + 750MB Data | 900 | Unlimited | 750MB | £99.99 | £37.00 | £987.99 |
| O2 On & On (2GB Data) | Unlimited | Unlimited | 2GB | £129.99 | £36.00 | £993.99 |
| O2 600 + 500MB Data | 600 | Unlimited | 500MB | £249.99 | £32.00 | £1,017.99 |
| O2 300 + 1000MB Data | 300 | Unlimited | 1GB | £299.99 | £31.00 | £1,043.99 |
| O2 1200 + 750MB Data | 1,200 | Unlimited | 750MB | £49.99 | £42.00 | £1,057.99 |
| O2 900 + 1000MB Data | 900 | Unlimited | 1GB | £99.99 | £41.00 | £1,083.99 |
| O2 600 + 1000MB Data | 600 | Unlimited | 1GB | £249.99 | £36.00 | £1,113.99 |
| O2 1200 + 1000MB Data | 1,200 | Unlimited | 1GB | £49.99 | £46.00 | £1,153.99 |
| O2 Unlimited + 100MB Data | Unlimited | Unlimited | 100MB | Free | £54.00 | £1,296.00 |
| O2 Unlimited + 750MB Data | Unlimited | Unlimited | 750MB | Free | £57.00 | £1,368.00 |
| O2 Unlimited + 1000MB Data | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1GB | Free | £61.00 | £1,464.00 |
Orange: BlackBerry Z10 Tariffs
Orange offers a range of BlackBerry Z10 tariffs from £36/month. For the majority of people, the best value tariff is likely to be Panther 36. This comes with 600 minutes, unlimited texts and 1GB internet for £36/month plus £30 upfront. The total cost of ownership over 24 months is £894.
Orange shares the same 3G network as EE and T-Mobile. Customers also benefit from Orange Wednesday (2-for-1 cinema tickets every Wednesday). If you’re under 24, you can opt in for the Orange U24 offer. This gives you an extra 1GB of data each month as well as unlimited calls to other Orange & T-Mobile customers.
| Tariff | Minutes | Texts | Data | Upfront Cost | Monthly Cost | Total Cost of Ownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dolphin 36 | 900 | Unlimited | 250MB | £29.99 | £36.00 | £893.99 |
| Panther 36 | 600 | Unlimited | 1GB | £29.99 | £36.00 | £893.99 |
| Dolphin 41 | 1,200 | Unlimited | 250MB | £29.99 | £41.00 | £1,013.99 |
| Panther 41 | 900 | Unlimited | 1GB | £29.99 | £41.00 | £1,013.99 |
| Panther 46 | 1,200 | Unlimited | 1GB | £29.99 | £46.00 | £1,133.99 |
| Panther 61 | 3,000 | Unlimited | 2GB | £29.99 | £61.00 | £1,493.99 |
Three: BlackBerry Z10 Tariffs
Although Three have announced that they will be offering the BlackBerry Z10, they have yet to announce their price plans.
If you’re signing up for a BlackBerry Z10 on Three, you’ll get a free upgrade to 4G when it launches later this year. This makes it a good alternative to buying on EE, as it’s likely that Three’s price plans will be significantly cheaper.
Three tariffs TBC.
Please see the Three website for more details on BlackBerry Z10 availability.
T-Mobile: BlackBerry Z10 Tariffs
T-Mobile has a range of competitive tariffs for the BlackBerry Z10. This includes the UK’s cheapest tariff for £7/month with an upfront cost of £320. On this tariff, you’ll get 50 minutes, 100 texts and 250MB of internet. Whilst the allowances aren’t very much, the tariff is notable because you’d normally pay £480 for a SIM-free and unlocked BlackBerry Z10. At £488 for this tariff over 24 months, the airtime is essentially free.
T-Mobile’s most popular tariff options are at the £26/month price point. For £26/month plus £150 upfront, you’ll get 300 minutes, unlimited texts and 1GB internet. This is the best value option for the “average” UK consumer (the average UK consumer uses 250 minutes and 250 texts each month). The 1GB monthly download allowance is also ideal for a high-end device such as the BlackBerry Z10. The total cost of ownership over 24 months is £774.
For an extra £50 upfront, it’s possible to upgrade to 500 minutes, unlimited texts and unlimited internet. You’ll still pay £26/month making the total cost of ownership £824 over 24 months.
| Tariff | Minutes | Texts | Data | Upfront Cost | Monthly Cost | Total Cost of Ownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pay Monthly 7 | 50 | 100 | 250MB | £319.99 | £7.00 | £487.99 |
| Pay Monthly 10.50 | 50 | Unlimited | 250MB | £269.99 | £10.50 | £521.99 |
| Pay Monthly 15.50 | 50 | 250 | 1GB | £249.99 | £15.50 | £621.99 |
| Pay Monthly 15.50 | 100 | Unlimited | 250MB | £249.99 | £15.50 | £621.99 |
| Pay Monthly 21 | 100 | Unlimited | 1GB | £199.99 | £21.00 | £703.99 |
| Pay Monthly 21 | 300 | Unlimited | 250MB | £199.99 | £21.00 | £703.99 |
| Pay Monthly 26 | 300 | Unlimited | 1GB | £149.99 | £26.00 | £773.99 |
| Pay Monthly 26 | 600 | Unlimited | 250MB | £149.99 | £26.00 | £773.99 |
| Pay Monthly 26 | 500 | Unlimited | Unlimited | £199.99 | £26.00 | £823.99 |
| Pay Monthly 31 | 600 | Unlimited | 1GB | £99.99 | £31.00 | £843.99 |
| Pay Monthly 31 | 1,000 | Unlimited | Unlimited | £149.99 | £31.00 | £893.99 |
| The Full Monty | 2,000 | Unlimited | Unlimited | £49.99 | £36.00 | £913.99 |
| The Full Monty | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | £29.99 | £41.00 | £1,013.99 |
Vodafone: BlackBerry Z10 Tariffs
Vodafone offers the BlackBerry Z10 on a choice of four tariffs. Their flagship tariff is Vodafone Red: for £37/month plus £69 upfront you’ll get unlimited calls, unlimited texts and 1GB internet. The total cost of ownership is £957.
For a lower-priced alternative to Vodafone Red, we recommend O2′s On & On. The monthly allowances are the same on On & On (unlimited calls, unlimited texts & 1GB internet) but O2 only charges £26/month and £200 upfront. The total cost of ownership on O2 is £824 – this gives you a saving of £133 against Vodafone Red.
| Tariff | Minutes | Texts | Data | Upfront Cost | Monthly Cost | Total Cost of Ownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vodafone £33/month | 600 | Unlimited | 500MB | £129.00 | £33.00 | £921.00 |
| Vodafone Red | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1GB | £69.00 | £37.00 | £957.00 |
| Vodafone Red Data | Unlimited | Unlimited | 2GB | Free | £42.00 | £1,008.00 |
| Vodafone Red Data | Unlimited | Unlimited | 2GB | Free | £47.00 | £1,128.00 |
Other Ways to Buy BlackBerry Z10
The BlackBerry Z10 can be purchased SIM-free for around £480. This comes unlocked so you can use it on the network of your choice. A popular option for SIM-free devices is to use it on giffgaff. They have Goodybag packages available from £10/month for 250 minutes, unlimited texts and 1GB internet. Calculated over 24 months, the total cost of ownership is £720. You can order a free SIM card from giffgaff or check out our full giffgaff review.
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About Ken
I'm a freelance writer specialising in mobile technology. I've been blogging at Ken's Tech Tips since 2005 with the aim of demystifying mobile technology for the rest of us.
Before writing about mobile technology, my background was in space & atmospheric physics. I have also worked in software development. Nowadays, I help companies to explain mobile technology to their customers. Please check out my portfolio or get in touch for more information. I'm also on Google+.
